Hello Tom's Team,

In the mist of what should be a joyous time for the Egan's, they have been struck, yet again, with the dreaded word, CANCER. It is rearing its viscous ugly face up into their world and during what should be the perfect summer for this family. Tom has beat lymphoma once, just never thought there would be a round two. His wife, Shannon, describes what is happening in their lives better than I can...

Words from Tom's wife, Shannon....

I'm struggling to find the words...Again. 

May 7th, 2021, Jaxson's birthday of all days, Tom received a call after a routine CT scan that they saw something in his chest that had grown. Two years after we thought he kicked cancer's ass, that's the last thing we ever wanted to hear. He proceeded with a PET scan, which showed more than one spot in his chest. Doctor said it was rare to see spots in his chest because this was “radiation zone” last time. Everywhere else in his body was clear. We prayed for some post radiation infection. He had a biopsy done last week and today we received the results. Unfortunately, the cancer is back.

I've seen the heart breaking look on his face more than once in the past month which I prayed I would never see again. We've been through the roller coaster of emotions ever since.

We don't have an exact treatment start date, but probably sooner rather than later. Sounds like it will start with an appointment in Chicago next week, be about 3 weeks of chemo here in Galesburg, (unfortunately without me by his side this time thanks to Covid), then he will go to Chicago and get a strong “knock-out” dose of chemo, spend 2-4 days getting a stem cell transplant, and spend roughly 3 weeks in the hospital following to allow his blood counts to return to normal-ish. Once again, he will be there by himself for this due to him being immunocompromised. They said it could take up to a year to fully return to normal, but he will hopefully come home around the three week mark. 

Just two short years later, we're just a young couple, trying to enjoy our three little babes, live life to the fullest, he's 3 weeks(ish) from finishing building our pool, I'm in NP school and working, pregnant with our fourth and final babe, he just switched jobs within his company and cancer just doesn't care. It's crazy to me how your whole heart can ache and the world feels like it came to a halt, but really everything else around you is still moving on. We are working, parenting, and trying to function as we did before. We're trying to be as positive as possible and some moments are easier than others.

We're such a tight knit couple and family and don't spend much time at all away from each other other than the normal work day. He's so strong and ready to do whatever it will take, but we think him going through the stem cell transplant and us all spending three weeks apart, especially having a new babe at home will be the hardest part, mentally. Hopefully physically he can hold up as strong as possible and power through like last time.

I'm hoping to be home on maternity leave with all the babes, while he is gone to make the child care part easier, but both of us won't be working and apart for some time which is 1000% going to suck. It all sucks really. Won't be the same home with my babies and not my better half. 

Right now, we need all the prayers and good vibes we can get to keep us strong when we're apart, prayers daddy gets to watch his baby girl enter this world, prayers to keep our babies as happy as possible while only getting to FaceTime their daddy for that long, prayers for his physical and mental health during it all, and most of all prayers this treatment plan works and we NEVER have to do this again.

He texted me a little bit ago after getting back to work after hearing the results and said “So after I did this the first time I said I'd do it again if that meant some child somewhere would be spared from cancer. God listened. I'm doing it so somebody's child doesn't have to.” I can't even believe I married such a strong, determined, self-less, loving man. It's so unfair what he's been faced with. I know he will kick cancer's ass again. Just will be another bumpy road ahead of us. - Love Shannon

So here is where we can all help!

With Shannon having their sweet new addition here in a few short weeks and going on maternity leave, Tom going to Chicago for stem cell treatment, and still having to manage the day to day tasks and duties at home we are asking for your help! With medical bills starting to roll in, trips to doctors appointments and chemo, and a Chicago stay .... we are asking for any donations you might be able to give. No gift to small! Tom's Team is also working on a benefit and meal train for this sweet family! More details and dates to come ... please continue to pray for Tom and his family. Keep checking back for updates! Days ahead might be tough, but an army of supporters are behind them! Stay tuned...

#tomsteam #comebackstronger #eganstrong #tomstroops

The Egan's - Tom, Shannon, Jaidyn, Jaxson, Jace, and Baby Egan